CRICH PARISH

Elias William Hartle (Will) (1889–1971)

Lieutenant

Military Mounted Police

P1362

Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)

185277

8th Battalion; 139th Brigade; 46th Division

Photos courtesy Rosemary Hall

NotesElias, known as Bill or Will, was born in 4th March 1889 at Crich. After working as a farmer he joined the police force and was a constable in the West Riding at the time of his enlistment in June 1915. He served with the Military Mounted Police as a Lance Corporal then a Corporal. Will entered France in June 1916 returning in January before joining No. 7 Officer Cadet Battalion. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant and joined the Sherwood Foresters. Re-entering France on 21st March 1918 he was almost immediately wounded in the left leg by gun shot and then repatriated back to England on 24 March 1918.
He was ordered to report to his Regiment on 29th April 1918 but had a few problems finding his kit. He wrote explaining his difficulty.

Sir
My leave expires on the 29th April 1918 when I have to report to the O.C. 7th Res, Bn. Sherwoods at Louth, Lincs. I am however, still awaiting the arrival of my kit from France. Could you possibly grant me an extension please for a few days as I am practically without kit?
I was advised from France that it had been sent on.
I have the honour to be Sir, Your obedient servant
E.W. Hartle 2/Lieut
1/8 Battn Sherwood Foresters

He married in January 1918 and in May 1919 he sailed to Canada aboard SS Olympic and he relinquished his commission having the rank of Lieutenant. He retired to Abernethy, Saskatchewan.

From "Joffrey’s War a Sherwood Forester in the Great War" by Geoffrey Husbands et al (2011)

Hartle, Second Lieutenant EW
2nd Lieutenant (later Lieutenant) Elias William Hartle, born 4 March 1899; a farmer in Saskatchewan in civil life; served in the ranks of the Military Mounted Police from 1 June 1915 to 26 June 1917, before being commissioned in the Sherwood Foresters on 27 June 1917; “A” Company, 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters; wounded on 24th of March 1918 with a gunshot wound to the leg and invalided to England. Geoffrey Husbands described him as “one of the good type of commissioned ranker; not hail-fellow-well-met or unduly familiar with his men definitely human and friendly to them, so the platoon held him in good esteem”. He was released from military service on 27th of February 1919 and returned to Canada.

There was a player called EW Hartle on a photograph of Crich Brigade Football Club dated1904–1905.

1918 Crich voters Elias William Hartle, Church; absent on military service

Derbyshire Courier
10 May 1919
Mr and Mrs William E. Hartle, of Crich, expect to embark by the Olympic on Saturday for Canada. Mr Hartle, who has recently been demobilised, came over from the Dominions during the early stages of the war and joined the forces. After serving in France for a period he gained commissioned rank and was a lieutenant in the Sherwoods. When in Canada he was farming in Abernethy, Saskatchewan, to which place he, along with Mrs Hartle expect to return.

Medal Roll Index
Elias was awarded the British War, Victory and 15-Star Medals.
He was a L.Cprl then Cprl with the Military Mounted Police (P1362).
Transferred to
8th Notts & Derby Regt as 2nd Lieut then promoted to Lieut. (185277)
Into France 19/6/15. Retired 31/07/22
Address at retirement: Box 113 Abernethy, Sask. Canada

Service RecordElias was born 4 March 1889 at Crich and educated at Crich British School. On his enlistment 1 June 1915 he was serving as a police constable in the West Riding Constabulary aged 26 years 3 months. The next of kin was his father Elias William Hartle Snr. (father).